Machine for vending stamps and the like



A. 1.. ZEQT 1,822,258

MACHINE FOR VENDING STAMPS AND THE LIKE Sept. 8, 1931.

Filed Dec. 19. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 USE NICKEL 0R DIME --|N EITHER S|UE- /4 TURN CRANK F /N VE N TOR A. L. ZENT 1,822,258

MACHINE FOR VENDING STAMPS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 8, 1931.

Filed Dec. 19. 1929 /N 0 AER/1M L. 2 NT.

ATTORNEY MIL p 1 A; ZENT.

MACHINE FOR VENDING STAMPS AND THE LiKE Filed Dec. 19. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet S ATTaR/VVEY Sept. 8, 1-931. A. L. ZENT MACHINE FOR VENDING STAMPS AND THE LIKE Filed Dgc. 19. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. ABHAM L. ZENT ATTORNEY i atented Sept. 8 193i AIBIRIAIMI LGOKH-EART ZENT; F DAYTON, OHIO- MACHINE FOE VENDING STAMPS; AND THE LIKE Application filed December 19, 1929. Serial No. 415,218.-

This invention relates to a machine for vending stamps and the like.

()ne object of the invention is to provide a simple efficient mechanism which wili aecurately deliver number of stamps corresponding to the value of a coin inserted in the machine.

A. further object of the invention is toprovide an improved coin controlled select.-

m ing device to determine the number of stamps delivered. 1

A further object of the invention isto provide a selecting mechanism of such a character that the operation thereof will 55 not be interfered with by the insertion of two or more coins prior to the operation of the machine, but which will act on the coins successively to cause the proper number of N stamps to be delivered for each coin.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide such a machine having. means for-exposing to view the coin last operated on until another coin has been inserted and the machine operated.

" A further object of the invention is topro vide such a machine having means to prevent the delivery of stamps when a washer or similar article is inserted in the coin chute; Other ob3ects of the lIlVGIltlOll Wlll appear as the mechamsm is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a front elevation of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 21s a top plan view of vation of the mechanism at the right hand side of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1';.Fig. r '4" is a detail view of the selecting and operthe parts when a five cent coin is in the chute; Fig. 8 is a similar View showing t'he position of the parts when a ten cent com is in the chute; Fig. 9 is a sectional detail View of the operating shaft and cam, Fig. 10

ating mechanism showing the positions of,

for vending articles of various kindswhich.

are connected in strips having one or more perforations or openings between adjacent articles. The term stamp as herein used is intended to include not only postage stamps but other similar articles.

The machine here illustrated is adapted to deliver stampsof any one of a plurality of denominations at the option of the purchaser and to deliver a numberof stamps of a selected denominationdetermined by the value of the coin deposited in the machine.

This particular machine vends one cent stamps and two cent stamps at a profitand is adapted to receive either a five cent" coin or a ten cent coin.

When a nickel isinserted in the machine and the machine operatedthere will be delivered either four one cent stam-ps or two two cent stamps, depending; upon the selection made by the purchaser. Ifa dime is inserted in the machine either eight one cent stamps or four two cent stamps will be delivered, again depending upon the selection made by the purchaser The machine comprises two vendlng units, one for one cent'st'amps and shown inFig. 1",.andthe vending unit for thetwo cent stamps-being at the right hand side of that cabinet.

I'f'desired', the cabinet may be provided in one or more walls thereof with glass panels 13 through which the operation of the mechanism may be observed. At the upper end of the cabinet are coin slots 14 and 15 which communicate with the coin chutes of the respective vending units. Arran ed in the forward portion of the cabinet and between the two vending units is a delivery chute 16 which terminates at its lower end in a delivery receptacle or pocket 17 which is accessible from the exterior of the cabinet. The two vending units are substantially identical and it will be understood that the description of one of these units applies equally to the other.

The stamp strips may be supported in the machine in any suitable manner. Postage stamps may be secured in rolls and the present machine is provided witn a series of reels adapted to receive such rolls, one of these reels being shown at 18. The several reels are mounted on a shaft 1.9 which is carried by arms or brackets 20 secured to the respective side members of the frame 12. Inasmuch the two vending units are identical and each advances the stamp strip the same distance as does the other it is necessary to utilize two strips of one cent stamps which will be advanced simultaneously and, in the present machine, there are three reels, one adapted to receive a roll of two cent stamps and the other two adapted to receive rolls of one cent stamps. Each stamp strip is led from its roll forwardly through a guideway 21, the forward end of which communicates with the delivery chute 16. hen the desired number of stamps has been feed forward into the chute they are severed, in a manner to be hereinafter described, and dropped through the chute 16 to the delivery pocket 17. The feeding mechanism which advances the stamp strip is here shown as comprising a driven roller 22 and a pressure roller 23, there being a separate pair of rollers for each stamp strip. The driven rollers are preferably frictionally driven so that they will advance the stamp strips under normal conditions but if the movement of a strip is interrupted or excessive resistance is offered to its movement the operating mechanism may move with relation to the roller and thus avoid injuring the mechanism. As here shown, the several driven rollers 22 are loosely mounted on a single shaft 2 which is supported in the side members of the frame 12 and one end of which extends beyond the cabinet and has secured thereto a crank 25 or other suitable means for rotating the same. The rollers are arranged between friction disks 26 carried by spacing sleeves 27 and collars 28 which are rigidly secured to the shaft. Mounted in each lateral face of each roller is a plurality of friction, members or small plungers 29 which are pressed outwardly into frictional contact with the respective friction disks 2G by springs 30, thereby frictionally connecting the roller with the shaft. The lower or pressure rollers 23 are supported by pivoted brackets 31 each of which has a downwardly extending portion 32 which is acted upon by a spring to move the roller 23 toward the driven roller and thus cause the stamp strip to be gripped between the two rollers. The pressure roller engages the gummed side of the stamp and to prevent the possibility of the stamp sticking to the roller, due to long continued pressure thereon, I have provided means for retracting the pressure roller and holding the same normally in an inoperative position. For this purpose the downwardly extending part 32 of the bracket 31 has a part arranged to be engaged by a lug or cam 35 on an operating shaft 36 which controls the operation of the mechanism, as hereinafter described. The cam :35 is so arranged that at the end of. each delivery of stamps it will engage the part ist of the bracket and move the bracket about its axis in a direction to withdraw the pressure roller from the driven roller. A detent 37 engages a pin 38 on the bracket and retains the pressure roller in its inoperative position until the detent is actuated. to release the same at the beginning of another operation. I

The stamp strip is held normally against movement in the guideway 21 by a detent. 39 arranged to enter the perforation or perforations between. adjacent stamps and, in the present instance, comprise a series of spring fingers having downturned ends to extend through openings in the upper and lower ails of the guide my and through the perforations in the stamp strip. The yieldable fingers are so arranged that the resiliency thereof will tend to hold them normally in their operative positions, in which the stamp strip is held against movement. The detent is moved to its inoperative position by a suitable lifting device which is here shown as a lever 40 pivotally mounted between its ends on lugs 41, carried by the top wall of the guideway 21, and having at its forward end downwardly extending parts in which is mounted a rod 42 which extends transversely to and beneath the resilient l ngers 39. The rear end of the lever 40 is dc pressed by means of a cam 43 which is held normally in an inoperative position by a. spring 44. The cams 43 for the detents which act on the two one cent stamp strips are secured to a shaft 45 having at one end thereof a crank arm 46 and the cam 43 for the two cent stamp strip is secured to a tubular shaft 47 mounted on the sh. ft and having at its outer end a crank arm 48. If desired, each cam may have a finger piece 49 by means of which it may be actuated to depress the rear end of the lever and thus t-io length of one stamp.

move the detent to its inoperative position when it is. desired to insert or remove the;

: the shafts and 47 to release the respective stamp strips and permit the same to be advanced by the feed rollers a distance determined by the denomination or size of the coin which has been inserted in the machine. In the present instance, this is accomplished by means of an actuating device comprising an arm 50 pivotally mounted on a stud 51 and having an actuating finger 52 pivotally supported on the free end thereof. The upper end of the actuating finger is movable into operative relation with either of two contact parts 53 and 54 carried by and forming parts of an intermediate member 55 which is pivotally mounted on a shaft 56 and which is connected by a link 57 with the crank arm. 48 of the shaft carrying the de tent operating cam 43. As here shown, the link 57 has at its outer end a longitudinal slot 58 to receive a stud or pin 59 on the crank arm 48. This pin is normally held in the lower end of the slot by the spring 44 so that the crank arm will be operated b any upward movement of the hnk, but

the cranl-z arm may be moved with relation to the link when the cam 43 actuated. by

its finger piece 49. Rlfjltlly connected with the actuating arm 50 is an arm 60, the end of which is held in engagement with a cam 61 on the operating shaft 36 by means of a spring 62. The operating shaft ms secured thereto a gear 63 which meshes with a (54 on the feed roller shaft 24 so that the operating shaft will be actuated whenever the crank 25 is actuated. The cam will act rpon the arm to move the arm 50 and the actuating linger 52 through a predetermined distance upon each rotation of the operating shaft and the length of the cam surface is, in the present instance, sufficient to hold the operating device in its elevated position, and thus hold the detent 39 111 its inoperative position, through a period of time snfficient to permit the feed rollers to advance the strip a distance in excess of the When the cam passes out of engagement with the arm 60 the operating device moves downwardly and releases the intermediate pivoted member 55. If this member is unrestrained it will be Lia-moved downwardlv b a sirin 150 which ment equal to the length of two stamps the detent will enter the second row of perforations and prevent the further movement of the stamp strip, thus permitting two stamps to be moved beyond the guideway in a position in which they may be severed and delivered to the purchaser. It will be noted that the contact parts 53 and 54 are spaced different distances from the axis of the pivoted member 55 and consequently a given. movement imparted to the actuating finger 52 will, when that iinger 1s in engagement with the contact part 54, move the pivoted member 55 a greater distance than it will move that member when it is in engagement with the contact part 53. The position of the actuating linger is so controlled, in a manner hereinafter described, that when a nickel is in the coin chute the actuating finger will be supported in operative relation to the contact part 53 of the pivoted member, and when a dime is in the chute the finger will be supported in operative relation to the contact part 54. hen the actuating finger is in engagement with the contact part .53 the member 55 will be released when the cam 61 passes out of engagement with the arm 60, thus permitting two stamps to be delivered for the nickel which is in the chute. When the actuating finger is in operative relation to the contact part 54 the further movement which is thus imparted to the piv oted member 55 will cause a detent or pawl 65 to engage a lug 66 on the pivoted member and retain the same in its elevated position after the actuating finger 52 has moved downwardly, thus retaining the detent 39 in its inoperative position for a longer period of time. The detent 65 has connected therewith an arm 67 acted upon by the spring 62 to move the detent 65 toward the member 55 and this arm is arranged to-be engaged by a pin 68 carried by a part secured to the operating shaft 36. This pin is so arranged that it will engage the arm 67 and move the pawl 65 out of engagement with the pivoted member 55 after the stamp strip has been advanced a distance slightly greater than the length of three stamps, thereby permitting the detent to engage the upper. surface of the fourth stamp and to enter the next series of perforations when the strip has been advanced a distance equal to the length of four stamps, thereby permitting four stamps to be advanced beyond the guideway and into positions in which they may be severed and delivered.

Associated with each vending unit is a coin chute 69 which chutes communicate respectively at their upper ends with the coin slots 14 and 15. Extending into each coin chute near the lower end thereof is a stop '70 which will arrest the downward movement of a. coinand; which may be moved ice out of the path of a coin to permit the same to be discharged. An arm 71 is pivotally mounted alongside the chute, as shown at 72, and has its forward portion offset and extended upwardly as shown at 7 3, so that when the arm is moved about its axis the up )er end thereof will enter the chute 69 ant engage the edge of a coin supported on the stop 7 0. A spring 74 presses the end of the arm against the coin and the movement thus imparted to the arm is determined. by the diameter of the coin. Rigidly secured to the arm 71 is a second arm 7 G which extends upwardly alongside the chute and, has at its upper end a forwardly extending portion provided with a lateral projection or stud 77 which engages the rear edge of the actuating finger 52. A spring 78 acts 011 the finger 52 to hold the same in contact with the stud 7. The relative positions of the arms 71 and 76 are such that when the arm 71 is in contact with a five cent coin the actuatingfinger will be positioned in operative relation to the contact part 53 of the pivoted member 55, (see Fig. 7 and when the arm 71 is in contact with a ten cent coin the actuating finger will be supported in operative relation with the contact part 54- of the pivoted member (see Fig. 8). The forward portion of the arm 71 has a laterally extendin stud 79 which is engaged by an arm 80 pivotally mounted on the stud 51 and having an upwardly and forwardly extendingportion or finger 81 arranged to be actuated by a cam 82 on the operating shaft 36. hen the cam 82 engages the finger 81 the arm 71 w'll be moved about its axis in a direction to withdraw the arm from the coin chute. When the highest point of the cam is in contact with the finger the arm will be entirely withdrawn from the chute so that the latter will be unobstructed. hen the finger 81 is in contact with the part 83 of the cam the finger 71 will project into the chute a distance sui'licient to interrupt the passage of any coin inserted therein, as shown in Fig. (3. The arm occupies this position during the time that the stop 7 O is withdrawn so as to prevent acoin from passing directly through the chute. The further operation of the cam will then withdraw the arm far enough to release the coin and permit it to drop into the stop after which the high portion of the cam passes beyond the finger 81 and the arm 71 is permitted to move inwardly until its movement is checked 1 y the coin. In the present construction, I have shown at the rear of the chute an arm 8st pivotally mounted at 85 and extending downwardly to a point be yond the lower end of the chute 69 where it is provided with laterally extending projection or lip 86 adapted to be moved into and out of line with the lower end of the chute. This arm has a forwardly extending projection 87 adapted to extend through an opening in the rear edge of the chute 69 and to be engaged by a coin on the stop 7 O. The spring 78 is also connected with the arm 84 and tends to move the same to its foremost position. The rearward movement of the arm is limited by a stud 88 so arranged that when the arm is in contact therewith the lip 86 will be substantially out of line with the chute and the projection 87 will then constitute a fixed abutment against which the coin bears. Vhen the coin moves out of line with the projection 87 the arm 84- will move forwardly and thus bring the lip 86 into line with the chute and this movement will be effected in time to check the movement of the coin which has been released by the withdrawal of the stop 70 and thus cause that coin to be supported in a position in which it may be observed and its character determined through the glass panel of the cabinet.

The stop 7 0 is carried by a lever 90 pivotally mounted at 91 on a vertical axis in front of the coin chute 69 and having an upwardly extending arm 92 which carries a roller 93 which is arranged to be engaged by a face cam 94- on the operating shaft 36. A spring 95 acts on the lever 90 to hold the roller 93 against the cam and the cam is so arranged with relation to the cams 61 and 82 that it will move the lever and stop 71 outwardly to release the coin at the end of each operation of the machine. As the coin moves out of engagement with the part 87 of the lever 8% this lever will be moved forwardly by its spring 78 and the lip 86 thereof positioned below the chute so that it will check the movement of the coin and support the same in a position in which it will be exposed to view until such time as anothercoin is inserted in the chute and forced against the lever 84 to retract the lip 86. The lever 90 has a second upwardly extending arm 96 which carries a pin 97 so arranged that it may be moved into and out of the path of the actuating finger 52 by the movement of the lever 90 about its axis. Tue lever also carries a pin 98 arranged above the stop 70 and adapted to contact with the coin in the chute. When the pin 98 is in engagement with a coin the lever 90 will be supported in such a position that the pin 97 will be out of the path of the actuating finger but if there is no coin in the chute or if there is a washer in the chute or some other device having an opening through which the pin 98 will extend, the lever will move inwardly far enough to position the pin 97 in front of the actuating finger and thus prevent that actuating finger from being moved into operative relation to the pivoted member 55. The movement of the selecting levers 71 and 76 will take place as before but there will be no -is moved upwardly to release the stamp strip the pressure roller will also be released and permitted to moveinto operative engagement with the stamp strip. In the present instance, this detent 37' is utilized to actuate a counter 99 of the conventional type, with which it is connected by a link 100. Inasmuch as the pivoted member is moved different distances for thedelivery of different numbers of stamps the counter will accurately register the number of stamps discharged. The stamps which are fed beyond the forward end of the guideway 21 are severed by a cutter or blade 101 which is rigidly secured to a shaft 102 mounted 011 one of the side members of the frame 12 and this shaft has a lateral projection 108, which preferably carries a roller 104, arranged to be engaged by a cam 106 on the operating shaft 36. A spring 107 acts on the shaft to hold the cutter normally in its elevated position and when the cam 106 acts on the roller 104 the cutter will be'moved downwardly and caused to sever such stamps as may have been projected beyond the guideways and these stamps will drop through the delivery chute 16 to the delivery pocket 17.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modificaperson skilled the tions may occur to a art. 7 Y Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: A i

1. In a stampvending machine, a feeding device to advance a stamp strip, a detentto enter perforations between adjacent stamps. and hold said strip against movement, means to move said detent to an inoperative position, an intermediate member operatively connected with said means and having a plurality of contact parts, an actuating member movable into operative relation to any one of said contact parts, coin controlled means to control the position of said actuating member, and means to impart o era tive movement to said actuating member;

2. In a stamp vending machine, a feeding device to advance a stamp strip, a detent to enter perforations between adjacent stamps and hold said strip against movement, means to move said detent to an inoperative positlon, an--1nte1-mediate member operatively connected with said means and having a plurality of contact parts, an actuating member mot able into operative relation to any one of said contact parts,- coin controlled means to control the position of said actuatmg member, means to impart operative movement to" said actuating member and move said intermediate member toa po'si ion determined by the contact part which is engaged'by said actuating member, and

means to retain said intermediate" part in the position to which it is moved when one of'said contact parts is engaged by said actuating member a longer time'than it will be retained in the position to which jit'is moved when another of said contact parts is engaged by said actuating member. I

3. In a stamp vending machine, a feeding device to advance a stamp strip, a detent to enter perforations between adjacent stamps and hold said strip against movement, 'means to move sa1d detent to an inoperative position, an intermediate member operatively connected with said means and having a plurality of' contact parts, an actuating member movable intoop'erative relation to any one of said contact parts, coin controlled means to control the posltlon of sa1d actuating member, said contact parts being so ar ranged that sa1d intermediate member will be moved a greater distance when one of sa1d contact parts is engaged by sa1d actuatlng member than 1t Wlll be moved when another of said contact parts is moved by said contact member, a detent to retain said intermediate member in the position to which it is moved when the first mentioned contact" part is engaged by said actuating member, and means for imparting operative movement to said actuating member.

4. In astamp vending maohine,-'feeding ro'llers'to advance a stamp strip, a detent to normally hold said strip against movement, means to move saiddetent to an inoperative position, a pivoted member operatively connected with said means and having a plurality of contact parts, an actuating device comprising an arm and a finger pivotally mounted on said am for movement into operative'relation we selected contact part of said pivoted member, coin controlled means for controlling the position of said actuating'finger, and means for innoarting operative movement to said actuating device.

5.In a stamp vending machine, feeding rollers to advance a stamp strip, a detent to normally hold said strip against move ment, means t'o move said detent to an inoperative position,- a pivoted member operativelyconnected with said means and having a plurality of contact parts, an actuating device comprising an arm and finger pivotally mounted on said arm for movement into operative relation to a selected contact part of said pivoted member, coin controlled means for controlling the position of said actuating finger, means for imparting operative movement to said actuating device, and means controlled by said pivoted member to hold one of said feed rollers out of contact with said stamp strip when said pivoted member is in its normal position.

6. In a stamp vendmg machine, a feeding device to advance a stamp strip comprising a driven roller and a pressure roller, a movable support for said pressure roller, a

spring acting on said support to move said pressure roller toward said driven roller, a detent to normally hold said stamp strip against movement, means to move said detent to an inoperative position, a plvoted member operatively connected with said means and having a plurality of contact parts, an actuating device having a finger movable into operative relation to a selected contact part of said pivoted member, coin controlled means to control the position of said finger, means to impart operative movement to said actuating device, means to move said pressure roller away from said driven roller, and a detent operatively connected with said pivoted member and arranged to engage said support and retain said pressure roller in its retracted position.

7. In a stamp vending machine, feeding mechanism to advance a stamp strip, a detent to normally hold said stamp strip against movement, means to move said detent to an inoperative position, an intermediate member operatively connected with said means and having a plurality of contact parts, an actuating device having a finger movable into operative relation to a selected contact part of said intermediate member, means to impart movement to said actuating device, a coin chute having means to support a coin therein, a movable arm having a part arranged to enter said coin chute and to engage the edge of a coin therein, whereby the amount of movement imparted to said arm will be determined by the size of said coin, and a second arm connected with the first mentioned arm for movement thereby and having means to control the position of said actuating finger.

8. In a stamp vending machine, feeding mechanism to advance a stamp strip, a detent to normally hold said stamp strip against movement, means to move said detent to an inoperative position, an intermediate member operatively connected with said means and. having a plurality of contact parts, an actuating device having a finger movable into operative relation to a selected contact part of said intermediate member, means to impart movement to said actuating device, a coin chute having means to support a coin therein, a movable arm having a part arranged to enter said coin chute and to engage the edge of a coin there in, whereby the amount of movement imparted to said arm will be determined by the size of said coin, and a second arm connected with the first mentioned arm for movement thereby and having a part to engage said actuating finger and control the movement thereof, and yieldable means to hold said actuating finger normally in engagement with said part of said second arm.

9. In a stamp vending machine, feeding mechanism to advance a stamp strip, a detent to normally hold said stamp strip against movement, means to move said detent to an inoperative position, an intermediate member operatively connected with said means and having a plurality of contact parts, an actuating device having a finger movable into operative relation to a selected contact part of said intermediate member, means to impart movement to said actuating device, a coin chute having means to support a coin therein, a movable arm having a part arranged to enter said coin chute and to engage the edge of a coin therein, whereby the amount of movement imparted to said arm will be determined by the size of said coin, a second arm connected with the first mentioned arm for movement thereby and having a part to engage said actuating finger and control the movement thereof, yieldable means to hold said actuating finger normally in engagement with said part of said second arm, yieldablc means for moving said part of the first mentioned arm into said chute, and means for withdrawing said arm from said chute.

10. In a stamp vending machine, feeding mechanism to advance a stamp strip, a detent to normally hold said stamp strip against movement, means to move said detent to an inoperative position, anintcrmediate member operatively connected with said means and having a plurality of contact parts, an actuating device having a finger movable into operative relation to a selected contact part of said intermediate member, means to impart movement to said actuating device, a coin chute, a stop mo able into and out of a position to support a coin in said chute, a movable arm having a part arranged to enter said coin chute and engage the edge of a coin which is supported by said stop, a second arm connected with the first mentioned arm for movement th ereby and having means to control the position of said actuating finger, said part of said first mentioned arm having a portion arranged to extend above the coin with which it is in engagement and support a second coin, and means for withdrawing said stop to release the first mentioned coin and for retaining said part of said arm in a position to support said second coin unt-il said stop had been returned to its operative position.

11. In a stamp vending machine, feeding mechanism to advance a stamp strip, a detent to normally hold said stamp strip against movement, means to move said detent to an inoperative position, an interme diate member operatively connected with said means and having a plurality of contact parts, an actuating device having a finger 'movable into operative relation to a selected contact part of said intermediate member, means to impart movement to said actuating device, a coin chute, a stop movable into and out of a position to support a coin in said chute, a movable arm having a part arranged to enter said coin chute and engage the edge of a coin which is supported by said stop, a second arm connected with the first mentioned arm for movement thereby and having means to control the member arranged to be engaged by that side of said coin opposite the side engaged by the first mentioned arm and having a part movable into and out of a position to support said coin after it has been released by said stop, a spring acting on said movable member to move said part into coin supporting position, yieldable means to press said part of said first mentioned arm against said coin, and means to limit the movement of said movable member by said coin.

12. In a stamp vending machine, feeding mechanism to advance a stamp strip, a detent to normally hold said stamp strip against movement, means to move said detent to an inoperative position, an intermediate member operatively connected with said means and having a plurality of contact parts, an actuating device having a finger movable into operative relation to a selected contact part of said intermediate member, means to impart movement to said actuating device, a coin chute having means to support a coin therein,'a movable arm having a part arranged to enter said coin chute and to engage the edge of a coin there in, whereby the amount of movement imparted to said arm will be determined by the size of said coin, a second arm connected with the first mentioned arm for movement thereby and having means to control the position of said actuating finger, a detent arranged to engage said intermediate member when the latter has been moved to a predetermined position, and means to move the last mentioned detent to an inoperative position when a predetermined movement has been imparted to said feeding mechanism.

13. In a stamp vending machine, feeding detent to an inoperative position, an intermediate member operatively connected Wltll sald means and havlng a plurallty of contact parts, an actuating device having a finger movable into operative relation to a selected contact part of said intermediate member, means to impart movement to said actuating device, a coin chute having means to support a coin therein, a movable arm having a part arranged to enter said coin chute and to engage the edge of a coin therein, whereby the amount of movement imparted to said arm will be determined by the size of said coin, and a second arm connected with the first mentioned arm for movement thereby and having means to control the position of said actuating finger, a detent aranged to engage said intermediate member when the latter has been moved to a predetermined position, and operating mechanism having means for imparting operative movement to said actuating device, for moving the last mentioned detent to an inoperative position and for withdrawing said first mentioned arm from said chute.

14:. In a stamp vending machine, feeding mechanism to advance a stamp strip, a detent to normally hold said stamp strip against movement, means to move said detent to an inoperative position, an intermediate member operatively connected with said means and having a plurality of contact parts, an actuating device having a finger movable into operative relation "to a selected contact part of said intermediate member, means to impart movement to said actuating device, a coin chute having means to support a coin therein, a movable arm having a part arranged to enter said coin ber when the latter has been moved to a pre determined position, a cam actuated means for imparting operative movement to said actuating device, for moving the last mentioned detent to an inoperative position and for withdrawing said first mentioned arm from said coin chute.

. 15. In a vending machine comprising an actuating device having a part movable into different positions to determine the ber of articles delivered, a selecting mechanism comprising a coin chute, a stop movable into and out of a position to support a coin within said chute, a cam to actuate said stop, an arm having a part arranged toenter said coin chute and engage a coin therein, said part of said arm having a portion to extend above said coin and support a second coin in said chute, means connected with said arm to control the position of said part ct said actuating device. and a cam to control the position of said arm, said cams being so arranged with relation one to the other that when said step has been moved to an inoperative position said portion of said arm will be in a position to interrupt the movement of a coin through said chute and support said coin until said stop has been returnen to its operative position.

16. In a vending machine comprising an actuating device having a part movable into different positions to determine the number of articles delivered, a selecting mechanism comprising a coin chute, a stop movable into and out of a position to support a coin within said chute, means to actuate said stop, an arm having a part arranged to enter said chute and engage the edge of a coin supported therein by said stop, means connected with said arm for controlling the position of said part of said actuating device, means for imparting movement to said actuating device and for withdrawing said arm from said coin chute, and means for interrupting the movement of said coin after it has been released by said stop and supporting the same in a position in which it will be exposed to view.

17. In a vending machine, comprising an actuating device having a part movable into diflerent positions to determine the number of articles delivered, a selecting mechanism comprising a coin chute, a stop movable into and out of a position to support a coin within said chute, means to actuate said stop, an arm having a part arranged to enter said chute and engage the edge of a coin suppor ed therein by said step, means connected with said arm for controlling the position of said part of said actuating device, means for imparting movement to said actuating device and for withdrawing said arm from said coin chute, an arm pivotally mounted adjacent to said coin chute and having a part arranged to be engaged by that side of said coin opposite the first mentioned arm, a spring to resist the movement of the last mentioned arm by said coin, means to limit the movement of said last mentioned arm by said coin, and a part carried by said last mentioned arm and ar ranged to be moved into the path of said coin when the latter moves out of engagement with said part of said last mentioned arm.

18. In a stamp vending machine, feeding mechanism to advance a stamp strip, a detent to normaily hold said stamp strip against movement, means to move said detent to an inoperative position, an intermediate member operatively connected with said means and having a plurality of con tact parts, an actuating device having a finger movable into operative relation with a selected contact part or said intermediate member, an operating shaft, a cam carried. by said operating shaft to impart operative movement to said actuating device. a detent arrangec to engage said intermediate memher when the latter has been moved to a predetermined position by said actuating device, a part carried by said operating shaft to move the last mentioned detent to an inoperative position, a coin chute, a stop movable into and out of a position to support a coin in said chute, a am carried by said operating shaft to control the position of said stop, an arm pivotally mounted adjacent to said coin chute and having a part adapted to enter said chute and engage the edge of a coin sup 'iorted therein by said stop, a spring acting on said arm to move said part thereof into said chute, a second arm rigidly connected with the first mentioned arm and having a part to engage said actuating finger and control the position thereof, an arm arranged to act on the first mentioned arm to withdraw the same from said coin chute, and a cam on said operating shaft to actuate the last mentioned arm.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

ABRAM LOCKl-IEART ZENT. 

